The Coffee Builders

The Coffee Builders is easily one of the most gorgeous coffee shops in Phoenix. It is a cozy space where every surface from floor to ceiling is a work of art.

The interior is warm and moody. Dark horizontal wood planks run across the walls and match the rich walnut ceiling panels shaped into dramatic 3D origami style geometric patterns. The space does not get much natural light but that works beautifully here. The low lighting lets the wood tones and textures do all the talking and the smaller footprint makes the whole room feel like you have been invited into something personal. The service counter alone is a work of art. It is made of light marble with inset slats cut at varying angles to form a fan like geometric pattern that I could stare at for hours. Stone and gold accents give the whole place a "jewelry box" feel. And sitting on top of that counter is a gorgeous wide La Marzocco Strada espresso machine. Porter Barn Wood operates right next door and their craftsmanship is on full display throughout the shop. The name "The Coffee Builders" makes a lot of sense once you walk in.

For espresso, they use a Brazilian and Ethiopian blend. The Brazilian base provides deep caramel sweetness while the Ethiopian (a Yirgacheffe, I could tell immediately after tasting it) brings bright acidity. The result has a tea like quality that some people will absolutely love. I am personally more of an Ethiopian Sidama or Guji fan. A naturally processed Ethiopian from those regions would give you a heavier mouthfeel with berry like flavors instead of the black tea character of a washed Yirgacheffe. But hey, I am nitpicking. The latte was delicious.

The latte I ordered was a medium size. They offer two sizes for hot lattes (medium and large) but both come with the same double shot. The medium gave me a perfect espresso to milk ratio so I would recommend starting there. If you want the larger cup, throw in an extra shot so the espresso does not get drowned out (unless you love the extra milk).

My wife went with the Bourbon Vanilla Latte from the "Luxury Latte" menu. The vanilla was strong and pleasant, softening the bourbon notes in all the right ways. It was well mixed from top to bottom with no heaviness settling at the base. The sweetness level was perfect by default. No adjustments needed. No "can I get that with less sugar" negotiations. Just a perfectly built drink.

I also sampled their cold brew, which is made from Colombian beans aged in charred oak barrels before roasting. The process gives it a smooth bourbon sweetness and vanilla character without any actual alcohol. If you are into barrel aged anything, this one is worth trying.

Their drip coffee uses Sumatra single origin. Sumatra beans are typically wet hulled, which gives them an earthy and heavy body. Expect cedar or tobacco notes and the low acidity makes it gentler on an empty stomach if you are a before breakfast coffee drinker.

We showed up on a Saturday late morning and the place was absolutely buzzing. They had a Star Wars theme event going and the line stretched all the way to the door. It moved fast though (less than 10 minutes) and the barista assured me this is not the norm. Clearly people know about this place, and I get it. I would have loved to slow down and really soak in all the woodwork and design details but that will have to wait for next visit. Outside, a large courtyard patio with plenty of seating is enclosed by a wrought iron fence. The patio opens up to a covered parking area with even more tables and space to spread out.

I have been to hundreds of coffee shops across Arizona. Great coffee and beautiful spaces are not hard to find in this state. But it is a rare thing to walk into a room and feel the craft before you even smell the coffee. You look up and someone has turned the ceiling into a sculpture. You look at the counter and it belongs in a gallery. The Coffee Builders earned their name. Go see it for yourself.